DISLOCATIONS. I4I 



without any history whatever of injury. The animal showed 

 no sign of pain, but walked on its tarsus like a rabbit. Under 

 chloroform and antiseptic precautions an incision was made 

 through the skin, and the divided ends were sutured ; after- 

 treatment was the same as already advised above, and the 

 result was a complete and permanent success.^ 



Dislocations.— A dislocation is distinguished from a fracture 

 by the fact of the swelling occurring at a joint, the absence of 

 crepitus, and, as a rule also, of pain during movement. The 

 limb is also perceptibly shorter than the other. The most 

 common dislocations met with are those of the elbow, stifle, 

 shoulder, and toe joints. They are most frequently seen in 

 young dogs and are most troublesome conditions to deal 

 with on account of the tendency to relapse after reduction 

 has been effected. The prospects of cure are much better if 

 treatment is adopted immediately after the injury has occurred. 

 The principles of treatment are as follows : Chloroform or 

 some general anaesthetic is of service in severe cases because 

 it relaxes the tissues and because after reduction it is easier to 

 keep the parts in their proper places until external supports ^re 

 affixed to keep them in position. The patient is placed in a 

 lateral posture on the operating table, three legs being fixed 

 and the injured one placed in the most convenient position for 

 the application of traction. An assistant takes a firm hold 

 above the dislocation (when the shoulder joint is affected a 

 broad bandage or handkerchief is passed under the axilla and 

 held from either side), the operator then grips the limb just 

 below the injury with one hand and employs steady traction 

 in whichever direction he deems necessary to replace the 

 affected parts in their normal situation ; at the same time 

 with the fingers and thumb of the other hand he endeavours 

 to adjust the joint. In old standing cases a successful result 

 is often impossible but in recent cases reduction can generally 

 be effected. The most difficult task is to retain the parts in 



1 "Veterinary Record," Vol. XIl., p. 310. 



